Cage making machine



Alg- 16, 1932, A. c. SHERWAN ET Al. 1,871,751

CAGE MAKING' MACHINE Filed June 5, 1931 Z5@ 45 45. ff

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 narran vSTATES A AUG-UST C.- SHERWAN, MILTON B. GRANT, -AND HERMAN F. HEDDERICK, OF ST. LOUIS,

r MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO WESTNGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING (30M.-`

PATENT lol-*Flce PANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA caen VMAKING MACHINE n Application fueafann 5, 1931. serieu No. 542,4366.

y Theinvention relates to cagemakingmachines and particularly to machines for mak# ing cagesy which are utilized in the manufacture vof reinforced concrete products by a spinning process. l 4

In themanufacture of reinforced concrete products by spinning, such as poles, piles and the like, a reinforcing cage is usually made of a plurality of longitudinal'bars held in 'lace b suitable means such as s acer rings 7 D placed inside the bars,"and ahelical winding of wire, at a specified pitch, is Vwound around the bar s. The finished cage is placedinside of a mold,- and themold is filled vwith concrete and closed and revolved until the desired product is formed.

' Heretofore, the cages were made by sliding the spacer rings over a mandrel, the length of which was equal to the length of the cage to be made. The longitudinal bars were then assembled about the spacer rings and were held together. by special wire spacers. The mandrel was then revolved, and the wire for the helical wrapping was placed on the bars by hand. The entire cage was then pulled lengthwise ,from the mandrel.

VThis method of making cagesrequires a space at the end ofthe machine slightly greater than the length of thercagegSrO that the' cage may be pulled lengthwise from the mandrel. A further disadvantage is the difiiculty experiencedin evenly spacing the rods` for all the cages made, which tends to weaken the inishedconcrete product if the rods are not properly spaced. Separate mandrels are also required for cages of different sizes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cage-making machine which requires only a small amount of space attheend of the machine to permit the cage to be removed.

Itis another object of the invention to. pro'- vide acage-making machine in which the iinished cage may be lifted from the machine in a substantially vertical direction. i

It is still a further object of the invention to ensure the proper spacing of the long-itu# dinal bars of products. Y

Itis an lauailiaryobject of the invention toprovide a machine for making reinforcing a cage for reinforcing'concrete cages in lessY time than by existing methods.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a cage-making'machine which does not require a different mandrel for each difieren length of cage. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawing, wherein: i

Figure l is a perspective view of a cagemaking machine and illustrates an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a head plate utilized in the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the tail assembly shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4f is an enlarged side view of an assembling ring as utilized in our invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembling ring partly opened; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembling ring as it appears when closed.

The- 'cage-making' machinel consists of rings, and a continuous helical wrapping,

preferably of wire.

in order to overcome the necessity for a mandrel, as well as to accomplish the other objects of the invention, the head plate is preferably -provided with a hinged or de# tachable portion, and the assembling rings are hinged and provided with jaws for gripping the longitudinal bars. The bars are sembling rings when both are opened. The spacer rings are welded or otherwise attached to the bar or bars held by the sockets in the head plate.v The head plate and assembling rings are both closed and locked, the jaws of the assembling rings gripping some of the bars. The bars are then fastened in the tail plate, and a continuous helicalwrapping is placed on the bars.

`placed in sockets in the head plate and as- The assembling rings are then opened, 'the bars detached from the head and tail plates, and the finished cage is lifted from thev machine.

Referring specifically to the drawing for a detailed description of the invention, in Fig. 1, numeral 1 denotes an assembled cage on a lathe 3. The lathe comprises a movable head stock 5, provided with a head plate 6 fastened thereto by nut 4 and adanla-:d to be rotated by a source of motive power 7, a reduction gearing 9; and a tail stock 11, slidably mounted on rails 13 Which may be of any length and provided with a rotatable tail plate 14, having radial slots 39 therein, thetail plate Y being Jastened tothe tail .Stock by suitable means, such as a-nut The head stock is preferably mounted on anvadjustable sup,- port, including a wheel 15 a worin'gear AWheel 16 and longitudinal supports 1 8. p

Supports 17 are placed on the rails 13 and preferably are slidably and demountably mounted, as more than the ltvvo supports shown in Fig. v1 Will probably be necessary for longer poles, and the spacing oi? the sup.- ports will vary. VRollers 19, are rotatably mounted in the supports 17 for the assembling rings 2l to, roll on.

As shoivn in Fig. 2, the head plate 6 is prof. vided with a plurality of sockets Y arranged near the periphery oi the plate to provide a 'means for receiving and holding corresponding ends of the rods i One or more oit the sockets 25 are disposed on a movable portion 27 of the plate 6 this portion being attached to the main body of the plate by a hinge member 2.9, which portion 27 may be detachable instead of hinged, if so desired. The hinged portion` 2T is also provided with a latch 31 adapted to 1beheld in place by a screiv or pin (not shown) inserted in hole 33, in the plate 6 and in the hole 35 in latch 31. rlfhe'plate is preferably provided With a keyed central opening37 in order to tasten it rigidly and interchangeably to. the rotatable head stockv 5.;

The tail plate 14, shown in detail in Fig. 3, is provided with radial slots 39 around the peripher thereof and is attached tothe tail' stock 11 y any suitable means,v such as a nut 2. The opposite ends of the longitudinal bars 23 arevdisposed in the slots 39, and an end ring 41 is, placed around the bars to hold them in place; Suitable means may be used to hold the ring 4l in place, such as a nutand bolt assembly 43, with the bolt passing through a hole 45 in the end plate 14.

The assembling rings 21, shown in detail in Figs.4, 5, and6,V comprise a metal rim 47 preferably hinged permanent-ly at a plurality of points- 51 about its periphery,` and tvvo connecting members 53V and 5,5 tapered and overlapped to form the transverse slit 4 9. The connecting members 53, and 55 are provided with apertures''? toreceivecpins 59 V23:?? arenot at a hinged Aportion but `are held ,by liv-shaped lndcntations 58; and .60,.respectively.. v'lfhis construction is optional, and a hinge may be provided for each rod excepting ltliietop rod.

Y In `vmanufacturing the cage, the hinged segment 27 of the end plate 6 is thrown back, and longitudinal rods 23 arey placed in the Sockets, 25. ofthe end plates 6 and in thecorresponding notches oi the open .assembly rings 2l which rest on the rollers 419. In the meantime, the spacer rings; 6,1 have been welded te one of the rods, preferably the top rod 23a, before it is placed on the machine. As, the rod carried by the hinged segment, 27 is thrown back, sufficient space is provided for the insertion of the rings. mountedfon rod 23e, inside the other rods which have been previously positioned. in their respective sockets. i

The head-plate segment 27 is. then closed and is fastened by means, of latches 3.1, The assembling rings v21 are also, closed and filstened by means of members 53, and A5,5 and pins 59, the rings. 2l still resting on the rolls 19., The bars 23 are Placed in notches 3.9, in

the tail plate 14 and the ring His slippedY over the outside of the bars.. v

The end of the Wire 6.31`s attached toa rod 23, preferably at the tail, end of the machine, and the cage 1 is revolved by the. motor 7 throufrh the reduction gearing 9. The wire 63 is ed onto the-cage l, at a specified tch, by hand.. The wire. 6.3. passes., throughl the diagonal slots: 49 in each assembling ring 2l., and the Wrapping'js, theretoreontinuons,

After the wrapping is complete, the' endv of the Wiring may be fastened to, onel of the, rods 23, and the Cage 1 is ready for removal from'the machine. This is accomplished b removing the rino; 4l and pulling the tail stock 11 back, an 1 releasing the barsl from the sockets 257111 the enfdf plato. 6.. The aS` sembl'y rings may be opened before or. after the bars. are released, andthe cage may then be lifted from the machine.

By extending thev rai-ls 13 and adding ad: dti'onal' Supporting members 17,i cages of any length may be manufactured without. a mandrel for each different length of cage,

Head plates, tail plates and oSSsmbly rings',

may also be provided to hold' varying nurnbers of bars. Space is saved since no, ap,-9

precable distance is required at, theend of the machine, and the rods are always 3&- curately. spacedon. the, head plate, tail plate and assembling rimfgS The. #We Ol ico a cage is also materially reduced, since each rod does not have to be fastened to each spacer ring.

Although we have shown and described a Specific embodiment of our invention, it is understoodthat modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Y

We claim as our invention:

l. A machine for the manufacture of cages for reinforcing concrete products, said cages comprising longitudinal rods, spacer rings and a helically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive power, a head stock, a tail stock and supporting members for said cage provided with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said head stock and tail stock, and means for holding said rods in place at intermediate points between said head and tail stocks, said hold# ing means cooperating with said rollers when said cage is being rotated. Y

2. A machine for the manufacture of cages for reinforcing concrete products, said cages comprising longitudinal rods, spacer rings anda helically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive power, a head stock, a tail stock and supporting members for said cage provided with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said head stock and tail stock, means for holding said rods in place at intermediate pointsbetweeii said head and tail stocks, said holding means cooperating with said rollers when said cage is being rotated, and said holding means being provided with'a diagonal slot for allowing said wire to pass through said last named means upon said longitudinal rods.

3. A machine for the manufacture of cages for reinforcing concrete products, said cages comprising longitudinal rods, spacer rings and a h-elically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive power, a head I stock, a tail stock and supporting members for said cage provided with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said head stock and tail stock, and means for holding said rods in place at intermediate points between said head and tail stocks, sai d holding means being supported on said rollers, and comprising a ring provided with hinges, said hinges having j aws for gripping said longitudinal rods.

4. A machine for the manufacture of cages for reinforcing concrete products, said cages comprising longitudinal rods, spacer rings and a vhelically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive power, a head stock, a tail stock and supporting members for said cage provided with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said head stock and tail stock, and means for holding said rods in place at intermediate points between said head and tail stocks and cooperating with said rollers when said cage is being rotated,

for reinforcingV concrete products, saidcages i comprising longitudinal rods, spacerrings and a helically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive power, a head stock., a tail stock and supporting members v for said cage provided'with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said headstock and tail Vstock,means for holding said rods in placeat intermediate points between said head and taily stocks and coasting withv said rollers when said Cage is being rotated, said holding means including a diagonal slotfor allowing said wire to Vpass through said last named means upon said longitudinal bars, said means for fastening said rods to said head stock comprising a head plate provided with sockets for receivingthe ends of said rods, sadvhead plate having a hinged portion adapted to open radially and at least one of said socketsbeing disposed on said hinged portion. i v

6. A machine for the manufacture of cages for reinforcing concreteproducts, said cages comprising longitudinal rods, spacer rings and a helically-wound wire, said machine comprising a source of motive pow-er, a head stock, a tail stock and supporting members for said cage provided with rollers, means for fastening said rods to said head stock and v tail stock, means for holding lsaid rods in place at intermediate points between said head and tail stocks and coacting with said rollers when said cage is being rotated, said holding means being provided with a trans verse slot for allowingV said wire to pass through. said means upon said longitudinalr bars, said lmeans for fastening said bars at said head stock comprising a head plate Vprovided with soclrets for receiving the ends of 'said rods, said head plate having a hinged portionY thereof adapted to open radially and at least one of said sockets being disposed on said hinged portion, said means for fastening said bars at said tail stoclr comprising a plate provided with radial slots about its periphery adaptedvto receive said bars, and means for holding said bars in said radial slots.

7. In a machine for making reinforcing iio` cages for concrete products comprising longitudinal rods and a continuous helically wound wire, said machine comprising a head stock, a tail stock and a prime mover, the

combination of mea-ns for holding said rods Y at said head and tail stock, and means for holding said cage at intermediate points between said head stock and said tail stock and being soconstructed as to allow wire to 'be Wound continuously in a .helical form aboutsaid rods.

8. 'A machine for making cages for reinforced concret-e products, said cages com? 5 prisinga plurality of longitudinally extending rods, yrings for maintaining the iods in .spaced relation, and a continuous `Wire helix Aormed'aloout saidrrods, said machine coin- Vprisng a head stock and-'a tail stock relativ-ely iv :movable to f-suppoiftvarious lengths of iod,

and adjustableand removable means for sup- Jportingsaid cage at points intermediate the 'headstock and the tail stock, whereby the iinished cage may be removed from-the ma- Chine in a direction substantially transverse tothe longitudinal axis Vof the machine.

In testimony whereof, We havehei'eunt'o `subscribed oui1 names this 29 day o1c May, 1931.A

e@ Y 1 AUGUST C. SHERWAN.

MILTON B. GRANT. HERMAN F. HEDDERCK. 

